How to pronounce sombre
Say it like SOM-ber. Sombre has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sombre. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOM
- ber
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sombre pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- berKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of sombre
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: SOM-buh.
What does sombre mean?
- Dark; gloomy; shadowy, dimly lit.
- Dull or dark in color or brightness.
- Melancholic, gloomy, dreary, dismal; grim.
- To make somber or dark; to make shady.
Where does sombre come from?
Borrowed from French somber (“dark”), from Old French somber, from a verb *sombrer or Latin sub- + umbra.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sombre
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sombre.
Words that sound like sombre
Questions about saying sombre
How do you pronounce sombre?
Say SOM-ber. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɑmbɚ/. In British English it is /ˈsɒmbə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sombre?
Sombre has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOM). Broken into parts: SOM · ber.
Is sombre pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈsɒmbə/ (SOM-buh).
What words sound the same as sombre?
Sombre sounds the same as somber in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.